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Several bandits’ camps have been destroyed in North West Nigeria following aggressive airstrikes in a three-day intensive military operation led by the Air Component of Operation Hadarin Daji.
A competent Military source told Tribune Online in Abuja on Saturday that the NAF jets’ bombardments also killed no fewer than 78 bandits during the operations.
According to the source, “Air offensive action against bandits in North West Nigeria received a boost in a three-day intensive military operation led by the Air Component of Operation Hadarin Daji.
“In its resolve to rid the region of banditry, the air component focused on locations with a high concentration of bandits such as South of Dansadau town and North of Kuyanbana Forest Reserves in Zamfara State.
“Specifically, on August 2nd this year, Nigerian Air Force (NAF) surveillance platforms overhead these locations locked on bandits on bikes moving into Kuyanbana Forest Reserves.
“Diligent tracking of their movement led the platforms to extensive and well-concealed camps with numerous huts.
“Accordingly, using a mix of NAF Alpha Jet, MI 171 and Agusta 109 strike helicopters, the bombardment of the camps commenced on the evening of 2 August 2021 in liaison with ground troops forming blocking forces around the targeted areas of the forest.
“Through these coordinated attacks, over 78 bandits were neutralized, and their camps destroyed. Informants and locals in the general vicinity also confirmed an exodus of surviving bandits from the forest.
“Further ISR by the air component confirmed a total abandonment of the camp by the surviving bandits.”
The source added that in another development, the NAF 404 Force Protection Group stationed in Kaduna, on 4 August 2021, a 48-year-old bandits’ logistics runner named Aminu Saminu, around the Kaduna International Airport.
“Useful information by the runner was availed to the Air Component that has engineered focus around the Kaduna International Airport environment and other areas with high bandits’ concentration.”
Though the NAF Spokesperson, Air Commode Edward Gabkwet could not be easily reached for comment on the operations,, one of the officers on ground during the operations confirmed that the operation would be sustained until the bandits were eliminated in the troubled zones in the country.
